Page 12 - BE 50th Anniversary Edition

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A LETTER TO MY DAD
EAR DAD
April 6th 2020 is a a a day that will forever be etched in in my memory Late that evening I I got the call that I I never wanted to receive After a a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s you had passed away quietly at 9:22pm I rushed to your memory care facility
devastated and full of dread praying that somehow the message had been wrong When I walked into your room some 20 minutes later I found your physical pres-
ence still strong and reassuring only now
you were free of the terrible disease that had robbed you you of your memory I kissed
you you on your forehead wiped the tears
from my eyes and suddenly felt a a sense of relief that you were were no longer in in pain You were were clearly at at rest finally at peace The news of your passing was met with an an an instantaneous outpouring of of love and and support from thousands of of people I was overwhelmed by this display of affection and admiration While truly appreciative of all the comforting condolences I shared with everyone they need not feel sorry for me because God has blessed me me beyond measure placing you you in in my life for 58 of your 85 years Everyday you you imprinted upon me your unwavering belief that “the glass is always half half full never half half empty ” Without question I have been an an extremely lucky man because I didn’t just read about my hero or watch him from a a a a a a a distance I was actually able to live with my hero and digest your wisdom on a a a a daily basis You were an an absolute original Tall handsome charming smart ambitious organized confident hard-working distinguished immaculately dressed at at all all times unapologetically proud of your African American ancestry and and above all else loving and and kind to everyone you encountered I marveled at your ability to nav- igate the intricate nuances of a a a a per- sistently racist business culture within corporate America while demon- strating a a a relentless determination to identify and insist upon opportunities for African American executives and entrepreneurs Your willingness to “walk in in harm’s way” is is undisputed—providing an invaluable model that needs to be heeded by my peers too many of whom even at this critical moment in American history fail to to stand up and be counted when our peoples' lives and livelihoods are on the line I I distinctly remember when I I was nominated to serve as as a a a a cor- porate director on my first board of a a a a a publicly traded company You were quick to share your pride in my accomplishment Then you you delivered a a a a sobering and critical message: “Butch they did not run out of smart white people to serve on on corporate boards Don’t be confused they put you you on on the the board to both fulfill your fiduciary responsibilities but most importantly you MUST advocate on on behalf of African Americans at every turn ” You were a a a a a a a a natural-born salesman and entrepreneur always seeking and seizing opportunities others wouldn’t dare consider Your eagerness to to challenge the status quo and willingness to to “ask for the the order” even when the the odds seemed stacked against you were unmatched In fact the single most impressive business lesson you taught me was “the beginning of the the sales pitch only started once they they told you you no If they they said yes too fast then you you probably did not ask for enough ” You had a a a a a true genius for putting corporate executives at at ease to to garner their trust allowing them to to readily digest your message 50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL